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Fri, 31 Jul 2015 19:13:05 +0000en-UShourly110 Reasons Why Formula 1 Grand Prix In Montréal Is The Party Of The Yearhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/10-reasons-why-formula-1-grand-prix-in-montreal-is-the-party-of-the-year/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/10-reasons-why-formula-1-grand-prix-in-montreal-is-the-party-of-the-year/#commentsMon, 12 May 2014 21:25:53 +0000Alexander Dunphyhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/?p=71306Updated June 1, 2015 Why is Grand Prix Weekend (June 5 – 7) in Montréal the party of the year? Here are 10 reasons: 1. Three Days of Non-stop Adrenaline From June 5 – 7, 2015, Montréal turns into a wicked fast party of non-stop adrenaline pumping fun. People take to the track, streets, clubs, and bars to have a great time, giving the city an electric vibe you’ll never forget. 2.Delicious Drinks & Beautiful People On Terraces From sun up to sun down, the terraces of Montréal are in full-swing with beautiful people sipping sangria, popping bottles, and downing cocktails. Check out this list of great terraces in Montreal! 3. Really Fast & Expensive Cars Let’s not forget that the real reason for Formula 1 Grand Prix is not the glitz, glamour, and crazy partying, but to see really fast, really expensive cars in action. These high-octane cars are some of the most expensive four-wheeled machines money can buy! 4. Celebrities Galore The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada attracts many A-List celebrities to Montréal for the weekend. Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Hugh Grant, Rihanna and Drake have all been spotted on the race track! 5. Champagne... / Read More →

Why is Grand Prix Weekend (June 5 – 7) in Montréal the party of the year? Here are 10 reasons:

1. Three Days of Non-stop Adrenaline

From June 5 – 7, 2015, Montréal turns into a wicked fast party of non-stop adrenaline pumping fun. People take to the track, streets, clubs, and bars to have a great time, giving the city an electric vibe you’ll never forget.

2.Delicious Drinks & Beautiful People On Terraces

From sun up to sun down, the terraces of Montréal are in full-swing with beautiful people sipping sangria, popping bottles, and downing cocktails. Check out this list of great terraces in Montreal!

3. Really Fast & Expensive Cars

Let’s not forget that the real reason for Formula 1 Grand Prix is not the glitz, glamour, and crazy partying, but to see really fast, really expensive cars in action. These high-octane cars are some of the most expensive four-wheeled machines money can buy!

4. Celebrities Galore

The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada attracts many A-List celebrities to Montréal for the weekend. Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, James McAvoy, Hugh Grant, Rihanna and Drake have all been spotted on the race track!

5. Champagne Showers

The victory celebrations during the podium ceremony of Formula 1 Grand Prix always seem to include champagne showers. Open wide and let the good times roll!

7. Special Grand Prix Events Around The City

The whole city goes Formula 1 crazy during Grand Prix weekend. There are plenty of special events to attend. Find a list of some more special events here.

8. Watch History In The Making

Some of Formula 1′s biggest wins–and biggest crashes–have happened on the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit. There’s even a corner located right off the starting line dubbed “The Wall Of Champions” known for a hairpin turn that has caused some pretty spectacular wrecks.

9. Fine Dining At The Best Restaurants

The chefs of Montréal’s top restaurants have a gastronomic field day preparing special menus for the flocks of VIPs that dine during Grand Prix Weekend. Check out our post of “Where to Eat Like A VIP During Grand Prix” for some suggestions!

10. Something For Everyone

The Grand Prix Weekend in Montréal is very family friendly, and there’s something for everyone to do! Race on a simulator, grab a great meal with new friends, and see the sights of Montreal! Check out our post “Family Fun in Montreal During Grand Prix Weekend” for some ideas of what to do with those under the age of 18!

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/10-reasons-why-formula-1-grand-prix-in-montreal-is-the-party-of-the-year/feed/0CAFE DE FLORE BRINGS VANESSA PARADIS TO MONTREALhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/cafe-de-flore-brings-vanessa-paradis-to-montreal/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/cafe-de-flore-brings-vanessa-paradis-to-montreal/#commentsWed, 14 Sep 2011 17:25:06 +0000/blog/?p=5044Café de Flore is the eagerly awaited movie from celebrated Montreal director Jean-Marc Vallée. Vallée, director of C.R.A.Z.Y. (one of the best Montreal films ever made) and The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt and Paul Bettany, is bringing his latest film to his hometown of Montreal for a premiere at our city’s most glamorous cinema, the Imperial. The red-carpet affair and the premiere party afterwards promises to be glam—the star of Café de Flore is French singer/actress/bombshell Vanessa Paradis, wife of Johnny Depp… Café de Flore, an uncommon love story that spans decades, is told in a cross-cut back-and-forth style that showcases two very different landscapes—1960s Montmartre, where Vanessa Paradis’ character is a single mom of a young boy with Down syndrome, and present-day Montreal, where hometown actor Kevin Parent is navigating a thorny midlife crisis. The movie talks about that but what comes out is love, the power of love, the goodness of love and the destruction of love in all its forms. “The script had me captivated and I lived very beautiful moments on set,” says Paradis. “I saw the film for the first time yesterday, and it was very clear to me that it’s about love, in... / Read More →

]]>Café de Flore is the eagerly awaited movie from celebrated Montreal director Jean-Marc Vallée. Vallée, director of C.R.A.Z.Y. (one of the best Montreal films ever made) and The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt and Paul Bettany, is bringing his latest film to his hometown of Montreal for a premiere at our city’s most glamorous cinema, the Imperial. The red-carpet affair and the premiere party afterwards promises to be glam—the star of Café de Flore is French singer/actress/bombshell Vanessa Paradis, wife of Johnny Depp…

Café de Flore, an uncommon love story that spans decades, is told in a cross-cut back-and-forth style that showcases two very different landscapes—1960s Montmartre, where Vanessa Paradis’ character is a single mom of a young boy with Down syndrome, and present-day Montreal, where hometown actor Kevin Parent is navigating a thorny midlife crisis. The movie talks about that but what comes out is love, the power of love, the goodness of love and the destruction of love in all its forms.

“The script had me captivated and I lived very beautiful moments on set,” says Paradis. “I saw the film for the first time yesterday, and it was very clear to me that it’s about love, in all its forms—there is a bit of each character in all of us. It’s a movie that makes you think, and feel, and dialogue—while we were shooting, I felt inspired and full of oxygen and I relived that a bit last night while seeing the movie.”

Paradis says that she was attracted to the project by the script, as well as the prospect of working with Vallée, who also wrote the script. She says he’s a director who’s “all heart, as good at the emotional side of a story and the technical aspects of shooting a film,” and that she is looking forward to premiering the film in Montreal, a city she loves.

“The movie was born here, and it comes out in France a lot later,” she says. “The premiere in Montreal is the first time we’ll all be together with the Canadian cast and crew, it’ll be great.”

Vallée, for his part, says that though he adores shooting in Paris, he was happy to film half of his story at home in Montreal, where he was delighted to be able to ride a Bixi to work on-set—a rare privilege, he says.

“I had to shoot in Plateau Mont-Royal because it was a perfect setting for this story,” says Vallée. “My characters live near Parc Lafontaine and I shot in the park with all the chairs on Roy and St. André. Ultimately, the Plateau Mont-Royal was perfect to establish these characters and to setup a landscape that was totally different from the scenes in France. I still live there, I love it there, and it’s where my characters can flourish. The other place I’d like to live and work, is in the Mile-End, because you have Café Olympico and Genevieve Grandbois with her caramels a fleur de sel. Oh yes.”

The Café de Flore premiere and red carpet is on September 14 at the Cinéma Impérial. The film opens in theatres on September 23.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/cafe-de-flore-brings-vanessa-paradis-to-montreal/feed/0LAURIER GORDON RAMSAY OPENS IN MONTREALhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/laurier-gordon-ramsay-opens-in-montreal/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/laurier-gordon-ramsay-opens-in-montreal/#commentsFri, 12 Aug 2011 13:17:22 +0000/blog/?p=4811Yup, got a little crush on Gordon Ramsay. If you, too, are a fan of the celebrity chef, you probably know that he recently opened a restaurant right here in Montreal, in my Outremont-hood, no less. It’s called Laurier Gordon Ramsay – “Laurier” because it’s on Laurier Avenue, and “Gordon Ramsay” because, well, you know… A few hours before the staff opened the floodgates at the media and VIP opening last week, I was lucky to get a one-on-one private interview with Gordon – because we are now on a first-name basis. No need to wash his mouth out with soap that day; he was a sweet talker. Gordon complimented me on my shoes, dress, and hair. “Who’s your hairdresser?” he quipped (Javier at Furisme: I gave you a shout-out!), and made jokes about my baby-faced cameraman: “Are you on summer vacation, yeah?” Okay, he did swear a bit, but that’s sort of a trademark. Ever the businessman, however, as soon as the nitty gritty questions started rolling, Montreal’s newest culinary star grew serious. In our video interview, you’ll see how Gordon was quick to correct me when I called Laurier Gordon Ramsay a “new” restaurant, because it’s not. My... / Read More →

Yup, got a little crush on Gordon Ramsay. If you, too, are a fan of the celebrity chef, you probably know that he recently opened a restaurant right here in Montreal, in my Outremont-hood, no less. It’s called Laurier Gordon Ramsay – “Laurier” because it’s on Laurier Avenue, and “Gordon Ramsay” because, well, you know…

A few hours before the staff opened the floodgates at the media and VIP opening last week, I was lucky to get a one-on-one private interview with Gordon – because we are now on a first-name basis. No need to wash his mouth out with soap that day; he was a sweet talker. Gordon complimented me on my shoes, dress, and hair. “Who’s your hairdresser?” he quipped (Javier at Furisme: I gave you a shout-out!), and made jokes about my baby-faced cameraman: “Are you on summer vacation, yeah?” Okay, he did swear a bit, but that’s sort of a trademark.

Ever the businessman, however, as soon as the nitty gritty questions started rolling, Montreal’s newest culinary star grew serious. In our video interview, you’ll see how Gordon was quick to correct me when I called Laurier Gordon Ramsay a “new” restaurant, because it’s not. My bad. Actually, it opened in 1936 as Rotisserie Laurier BBQ, a family restaurant, and it’s been a Montreal institution for many generations of loyal clientele.

Since Gordon and his partners took over the establishment earlier this year, the décor has received a much-needed facelift. Much of the interior looks somewhat familiar, but the whole space is brighter and sleeker with creamy white ceilings and chic leather banquettes. Even the outside traded its yellow hue for a stylish black and white. Gordon called the look “casual glam” or “shabby chic.” Next summer a 35-seat terrasse is promised. That scored bonus points in my book.

Oh right. The food! The chicken, of course, is a mainstay, as is the pork, steak, and many of the sides that people have loved over the years. But the menu has been fine-tuned to meet Gordon’s haute standards, which included no more microwaving the infamous mocha cake just before serving. Opening night was a zoo of, I think, 600 people, so I couldn’t sit down and relax and colour on my placemat, but I did sample the food, which was happy, comforting goodness in my tummy. All at reasonable prices – with a nice affordable wine list to boot. I should mention that I did have seconds of the mac & cheese and spinach & cream. Both “bee-YOU-teh-ful”, as Gordon would say in his accent. Fancy that.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/laurier-gordon-ramsay-opens-in-montreal/feed/1THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL (JUNE 30-JULY 4)http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-june-30-july-4/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-june-30-july-4/#commentsThu, 30 Jun 2011 21:10:07 +0000Robyn Fadden/blog/?p=4538The last weekend of the Montreal International Jazz Festival is upon us – and it’s a big one. Rain or shine (looks like shine), the fest starts off Canada Day weekend with jazz standards and not-so-standards and caps it off with our own version of 4th of July celebrations: a massive outdoor concert from the B-52s. All that jazz plus a visit from Will and Kate, a fest just for teenagers, and some truly beautiful, truly challenging art from American painter (and celeb in his own right) John Currin… (jazz fest finale): I give a lot of leeway to the Montreal Jazz Fest’s definition of jazz because the influential fingers of jazz are everywhere, and hey, it’s summertime and fun is fun, but even this one raised my eyebrow: Poirier Sound System (June 30 at 10 p.m. on the TD Stage). I love these guys; they’re guaranteed to get your bump n’ groove on, but jazz? I guess we’ll see! Also June 30, see Colin James, Montreal’s great The Dears, Holly Cole, Katie Moore, plus none other than Sade at the Bell Centre. July 1 (Canada Day!) go for Norwegian Ninja Tune artists Jaga Jazzist, Montreal rock stars of the... / Read More →

]]>The last weekend of the Montreal International Jazz Festival is upon us – and it’s a big one. Rain or shine (looks like shine), the fest starts off Canada Day weekend with jazz standards and not-so-standards and caps it off with our own version of 4th of July celebrations: a massive outdoor concert from the B-52s. All that jazz plus a visit from Will and Kate, a fest just for teenagers, and some truly beautiful, truly challenging art from American painter (and celeb in his own right) John Currin…

(jazz fest finale): I give a lot of leeway to the Montreal Jazz Fest’s definition of jazz because the influential fingers of jazz are everywhere, and hey, it’s summertime and fun is fun, but even this one raised my eyebrow: Poirier Sound System (June 30 at 10 p.m. on the TD Stage). I love these guys; they’re guaranteed to get your bump n’ groove on, but jazz? I guess we’ll see! Also June 30, see Colin James, Montreal’s great The Dears, Holly Cole, Katie Moore, plus none other than Sade at the Bell Centre. July 1 (Canada Day!) go for Norwegian Ninja Tune artists Jaga Jazzist, Montreal rock stars of the 80s and beyond Men Without Hats, or the classic crooning of Tony Bennett. On July 2, Afrodizz heats up Club Soda, on July 3, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones drop some science on us at Theatre Maisonneuve.

On July 4, showing that even us Canadians can’t help but celebrate American Independence Day, we’ve brought in Georgia’s B-52s for a massive, free outdoor show with the always fun Rich Aucoin joining the party on the smaller nearby stage. And the indoor options aren’t too shabby either: Blue Rodeo, Marianne Faithfuland Ron Sexsmith.

(party like a canadian) Canada Day! If we are to believe the advertising hype, most people in this country are firing up barbeques and cracking open cans of Molson, but here in Montreal, July 1 is also known as Moving Day. This is not only the day to celebrate Canada being an independent nation, save for one or two of Mother England’s apron strings, but the day when a majority of rental leases are up. Why this logistical nightmare is still allowed to happen remains somewhat of a mystery, but since it’s basically tradition now, all tourists to the city should feel free to sit back and watch the parade of U-Hauls, blood, sweat, tears and the inevitable end-of-day beer, pizza and friendship break-ups. But it’s not all moving mayhem, I mean, there’s a real parade for Fête du Canada, starting at Fort and Ste-Catherine at 11 a.m., marching down to the Quays of the Old Port, with activities (like music, games, yoga and dancing!) and, of course, fireworks.

(the royal we) Yes, hot on the heels of our nation’s birthday and the wild-mannered celebrations thereof, comes a visit from our previous rulers. On July 2, the British monarchy swings by Montreal in the much-celebrated form of newlyweds Prince William and Kate Middleton. In town for a stop on their North American tour, the Royal couple will visit Ste-Justine Hospital and learn how to whip up Quebec-style French pastries at the Quebec government’s Hotel and Tourism Institute. There will be waving from afar.

(guitars galore) If the Jazz Fest isn’t quite specific enough for your musical tastes, maybe the 5th edition of the Montreal Guitar Show will sate your appetite for licks and riffs and pedals and whatever it is the guitar-obsessed are into these days. (I am into distortion, just fyi.) The fest-within-a-fest (because what isn’t a part of the Jazz Fest right now?) starts Friday at the Hyatt Regency Montréal and runs until July 3, with concerts, workshops and discussions from luthiers and other specialists from around the world. Just try not to drool too much over the 500 acoustic and electric guitars on display, unless you plan to purchase, then by all means drool away.

(teenage spirit) Sometimes the best thing to do with teenagers is put them in a massive room with other teenagers and a whole lot of hip hop. That’s what Montreal Teenfest organizers Music with Meaning think anyway – and they’re right in this case. The one-day fest and fundraiser (July 2, noon to 10 p.m., at Palais des Congres de Montreal) pairs musicians such as Gudda Gudda, Jae Millz, and Short Dawg (from Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment label), Danny Fernandes, Poirier, M’City Solo and more with a job fair and workshops on issues facing teens, from staying in school, to bullying to finding jobs and figuring out what the future might hold in the best sense possible.

(celebrity skin art) The newest exhibition at DHC/ART, two solo shows from two stars on the international art scene, is both a delight and a challenge. A chronologically set up show by American painter John Currin takes us through his evolution as a painter tackling certain obsessions – with media images, relations between men and women, and painting itself. Belgian sculptor Berlinde De Bruyckere tackles issues of life, death and love in her life-size sculptures of deformed – in a poignant way (just go if only to see whatever it is I mean by that) – horses, human bodies and trees. Both shows are controversial in their own ways, but ultimately thoughtful and thought-provoking.

(summer sounds) The Jazz Fest once again dominates the music picks for this week, but there’s always something going on in the realm of rock in this town. More pop than rock, on July 2, Katy Perry dreams a teenage dream at the Bell Centre. Or opt for something a little lower-key with the pop-folk of Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees, with locals Sean Nicholas Savage and Hexes & Ohs at Divan Orange. And the one-and-only The Roots dig deep at Metropolis as part of the wind-down to the Jazz Fest. Sunday, as always is all about Piknic Electronik, though headliners at last year’s Osheaga festival Weezer might make a trip to to the Bell Centre worthwhile.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/things-to-do-in-montreal-june-30-july-4/feed/0JAZZ FEST INTERVIEW: BOOTSY COLLINShttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/jazz-fest-interview-bootsy-collins/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/jazz-fest-interview-bootsy-collins/#commentsTue, 28 Jun 2011 22:48:34 +0000Brendan Murphy/blog/?p=4522It was a wild day tracking down the funk pioneer Bootsy Collins before his Montreal International Jazz Festival show at Metropolis, but as you can see from the video interview, it was well worth it. William Earl “Bootsy” Collins is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is, on stage and in person, funk personified. At age 20, his band The Pacemakers (eventually known as The Pacesetters) became James Brown‘s backing band and were renamed The J.B.’s. Though there were many incarnations of the group, as the first to do it to it, this lineup is always referred as The “original” J.B.’s- contributing to such monsters jams as Super Bad and Sex Machine. Bootsy’ signature space bass groove then made it’s way over to a little outfit called Parliament/Funkadelic and he played with George Clinton‘s groove army before taking on funktacular frontman status. Along the way, he’s also collaborated with Dee-Lite (on Groove is in the Heart), Keith Richards, Bill Laswell, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Snoop Dogg and Chuck D. He’s also released a series of albums and singles (like his Rubber Band’s #1 hit Bootzilla) that fundamentally altered this planet’s groove. He’s back on the... / Read More →

It was a wild day tracking down the funk pioneer Bootsy Collins before his Montreal International Jazz Festival show at Metropolis, but as you can see from the video interview, it was well worth it.

William Earl “Bootsy” Collins is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is, on stage and in person, funk personified. At age 20, his band The Pacemakers (eventually known as The Pacesetters) became James Brown‘s backing band and were renamed The J.B.’s. Though there were many incarnations of the group, as the first to do it to it, this lineup is always referred as The “original” J.B.’s- contributing to such monsters jams as Super Bad and Sex Machine. Bootsy’ signature space bass groove then made it’s way over to a little outfit called Parliament/Funkadelic and he played with George Clinton‘s groove army before taking on funktacular frontman status.

Along the way, he’s also collaborated with Dee-Lite (on Groove is in the Heart), Keith Richards, Bill Laswell, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Snoop Dogg and Chuck D. He’s also released a series of albums and singles (like his Rubber Band’s #1 hit Bootzilla) that fundamentally altered this planet’s groove. He’s back on the road after an all-too-long hiatus with a new album, Tha Funk Capital of the World, and his show at the Montreal Jazz Fest is going to be out-of-sight. I’ve interviewed a lot of musicians over the years, but hanging out in Bootsy Collins’ dressing room was almost too much for me to handle.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/jazz-fest-interview-bootsy-collins/feed/2MONTREAL GETS THE ROYAL TREATMENThttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/montreal-gets-the-royal-treatment/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/montreal-gets-the-royal-treatment/#commentsWed, 22 Jun 2011 21:38:26 +0000Alexander Dunphy/blog/?p=4441Will and Kate will continue their royal romance this summer as they travel to Canada in their first official visit as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Montreal will be rolling out the red carpet on July 2! If you’re ready to get in the royal mood, then you better give yourself the royal treatment by doing what the Royals would do… Will and Kate will be gracing Montreal with their presence for a mere 6 hours. But that won’t stop the hoopla! They won’t be doing any public appearances in Quebec, however they will be having lots of fun: A visit to Sainte-Justine University Hospital (to see all the sick children), a cooking workshop at the Institut de Tourisme et d’hotellerie du Quebec, and then off to Quebec City on the HMCS Montreal while the Fireworks from the International Fireworks Competition burst over their heads. How romantic! To be honest, the itinerary for Montreal is a bit of a snooze fest, though helping sick kids is good, I guess. So in celebration of our British ties (whether we like it or not), why not spend a day by being treated like Royalty… {tea time} What says opulence and royalty more... / Read More →

]]>Will and Kate will continue their royal romance this summer as they travel to Canada in their first official visit as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Montreal will be rolling out the red carpet on July 2! If you’re ready to get in the royal mood, then you better give yourself the royal treatment by doing what the Royals would do…

Will and Kate will be gracing Montreal with their presence for a mere 6 hours. But that won’t stop the hoopla! They won’t be doing any public appearances in Quebec, however they will be having lots of fun: A visit to Sainte-Justine University Hospital (to see all the sick children), a cooking workshop at the Institut de Tourisme et d’hotellerie du Quebec, and then off to Quebec City on the HMCS Montreal while the Fireworks from the International Fireworks Competition burst over their heads. How romantic! To be honest, the itinerary for Montreal is a bit of a snooze fest, though helping sick kids is good, I guess. So in celebration of our British ties (whether we like it or not), why not spend a day by being treated like Royalty…

{tea time}

What says opulence and royalty more than having high noon tea inside a jewelry store? Pretend you’re a princess while you enjoy the Birks Afternoon Tea served daily from 2:30PM. For a set price of $26.00 per person, you get a selection of teas from Mariages Frères, milk and lemon, 2 scones with all the desired accoutrements, desserts, macaroons, chocolates, mini cucumber and shrimp sandwiches, duck foie gras appetizer, mini club sandwich with prosciutto and mini smoked salmon and caviar canapes. How delicious! A bag of sweets to take home is also provided to bring over the top to over the edge. A Reservation is recommended.

{pub time}

When the royal wedding was going down, those who weren’t lining the streets in London were drinking in a classic British Pub. So after your tea time, better get your real drink on at a mock British Pub. The Burgundy Lion is located on Notre-Dame in Little Burgundy and is a very adorable and friendly watering hole. With an impressive selection of whiskey, beer, cocktails, and wine, Burgundy Lion is a place where you can get lost in for hours. Coat your stomach with their delectable menu, a yummy and fresh take on British food. Hint: try the Burgundy Lion Sandwich. You won’t be hungry again for a decade, but it’s so worth it.

{shopping time}

Sometimes it’s an experience to go to the historically more “English” part of Montreal, in that case head up to Westmount for great shopping! Up Greene Avenue, and along Sherbrooke West all the way to Decarie has some great little boutiques. Full of place where you can get designer digs, gourmet dog food, incredible cupcakes and handmade soaps. Claremont Cafe, The Ugg Store, and James Perse are all great stops found only in Westmount. Maybe you can even find a sexy fascinator to really complete your outfit:

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/montreal-gets-the-royal-treatment/feed/0CELEBRITY SPOTTING IN MONTREALhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/celebrity-spotting-in-montreal/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/celebrity-spotting-in-montreal/#commentsThu, 31 Mar 2011 19:17:18 +0000/blog/?p=3815When celebrities come to Montreal, they’re just like normal tourists. Take Jake Gyllenhaal for example. When he was here filming Source Code, he stayed in a hotel, played with his dog, ate in restaurants and shopped in stores. The only difference is that, when celebs do it, we take detailed mental notes and then blab about them to our friends. Here are some recent Celeb sightings in Montreal… If you loved my first post about Celebrity-Spotting, here’s round-up number two. If you have anything to add to this list, send me an email [info@patriciagajo.com] and let me know. You may get your own 15 minutes of fame in a future post… RESTAURANTS: Well, we all know what Ethan Hawke did in Montreal when he was still married to Uma Thurman. A certain bartender at the Globe (whom shall remain nameless – if you don’t already know her – because we protect our own) got more than a great tip, if you know what I mean… Robert DiNiro, Ben Affleck and George Clooney have also been known to dine at this St-Laurent hotspot, but I can’t confirm if they got lucky too. Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson was spotted enjoying a meal... / Read More →

]]>When celebrities come to Montreal, they’re just like normal tourists. Take Jake Gyllenhaal for example. When he was here filming Source Code, he stayed in a hotel, played with his dog, ate in restaurants and shopped in stores. The only difference is that, when celebs do it, we take detailed mental notes and then blab about them to our friends. Here are some recent Celeb sightings in Montreal…

If you loved my first post about Celebrity-Spotting, here’s round-up number two. If you have anything to add to this list, send me an email [info@patriciagajo.com] and let me know. You may get your own 15 minutes of fame in a future post…

RESTAURANTS: Well, we all know what Ethan Hawke did in Montreal when he was still married to Uma Thurman. A certain bartender at the Globe (whom shall remain nameless – if you don’t already know her – because we protect our own) got more than a great tip, if you know what I mean… Robert DiNiro, Ben Affleck and George Clooney have also been known to dine at this St-Laurent hotspot, but I can’t confirm if they got lucky too.

Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson was spotted enjoying a meal at Martin Picard’s Au Pied Du Cochon restaurant. Something tells me she had the poutine with foie gras. And Nana Mouskouri celebrated this past Valentine’s Day at Le Renoir (at Sofitel) with her hubby. I also heard that Justin Bieber had dinner at supperclub L’Orignal, though everyone that works there seems to deny it. When I interviewed fashion designer-cum-hotelier Georges Marciano not too long ago (he now owns and lives at L’Hotel), he told me he likes to have an early dinner at L’Appartment.

Montreal Canadiens’ fans may be interested to know that Andrei Markov has checked out the terrasse at Pois Penchemore than once, P.K. Subban (pictured above with my pal Lolitta) brunches at Eggspectation(both places are on de Maisonneuve ouest), and I recently saw Mike Cammalleri at Le Filet. What a charmer!

A Montreal Buzz colleague also saw Johnny Depp from her Mile End apartment window entering Milosrestaurant. (She’s a writer, too, so spends a lot of time looking out of windows.) Surprise, surprise, he was wearing all black and a fedora. Said colleague also informed me that she later learned that his partner in crime Vanessa Paradis was with him.

SHOPS AND SERVICES: Last November Jean Paul Gaultier shopped (solo!) at Era Vintage in Little Burgundy. Shop owner Elaine Lavaille (pictured with JPG above) said he chatted and gave style advice to another shopper, who didn’t recognize him. “He was like my assistant in a way!” says Lavaille, explaining that someone in Paris had told Gaultier about her boutique. He picked up things for his friends, asking for “something special, something with an idea or personality.”

For that tan he sported in 300, Gerard Butler went to Bronzage Extreme Solar Lounge(5619 Parc Avenue, Mile End), along with a slew (300?) of cast members. Two more quick tidbits here: Angelina Jolie got a tattoo at Adrenaline on Sherbrooke Street West and Penelope Cruz was spotted shopping at Rootson St-Catherine Street.

HOTELS: Classic French beauty and Chanel face Carole Bouquet stayed at Sofitel. Drew Barrymore was a guest at Hotel Vogue. But Montreal’s most memorable hotel visit may always be the late and great Elizabeth Taylor with Richard Burton (pictured above) on a break from filming Cleopatra, whom she married in a luxurious suite at the Ritz-Carlton– and the rumour goes the lovely violet-eyed superstar ordered a witness for her wedding ceremony from Room Service. Fancy that.

NIGHTLIFE: Mad Men cast member, Montrealer-turned-LA-transplant Jessica Paré graced Beaver Hall with an appearance at Papillon Rose(1071 Beaver Hall, Old Montreal). Recent Grammy winners Arcade Fire are (were?) regulars at Sala Rossa, Sparrow, and a certain Mile Endrestaurant that I have sworn not to divulge.

The aforementioned colleague (she’s a veritable girl about town) has also seen two more big screen stars. First, Cate Blanchett at Copacabana. I quote: “I was enjoying some adult beverages at Copa and saw a woman who looked like her, but she was in a dive bar and had really, really short hair. I didn’t think Cate Blanchett would be slumming it with the locals. I thought maybe it was just the gin talking so I didn’t tell anyone I was with – until the next day when I read online that she was in town for I’m Not There. Anyway, she looked like a diamond in the rough.”

Second, Kirsten Dunst at Green Room(a.k.a. Salon Vert). Here’s another juicy quote: “I bartended there for a while. One night I was cleaning the bathrooms and a drunk girl I barely knew was complaining about this guy that she was sleeping with who only called her after last call. A slurred voice from inside a bathroom stall chimed in. It was a blanket generalization about how men suck or something. Then, the girl stepped out and it was Kirsten Dunst. I guess it was around closing time because last call came and Kirsten asked us if she and some friends could keep drinking in the bar after hours, but my boss said ‘No.’ He had to see a lady instead.” All this to say, Montrealers may take note of visiting celebrities, but we do have our priorities in check.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/celebrity-spotting-in-montreal/feed/1MONTREAL IN THE MOVIEShttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/montreal-in-the-movies/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/montreal-in-the-movies/#commentsThu, 24 Mar 2011 16:00:46 +0000/blog/?p=3761One of the reasons movie studios like to shoot here is that Montreal can be all things to all people. It can double as anywhere in the world, including Ancient Sparta, as in Zack Snyder’s 300, or a resplendent version of itself, as in Montrealer Deborah Chow’s first feature, The High Cost of Living, starring Scrubs star Zach Braff. Recently, Montreal Buzz spoke to both Zach and Zack about their experiences shooting in Montreal… It’s no secret that Montreal is a great place to shoot movies, from the award-winning Barney’s Version and its Mordecai Richler precursor, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, to horror movies like Gothika and Orphan. The 60-day shoot for Zack Snyder’s 300 was completely enacted on greenscreens in a studio housed in five disused train warehouses in Montreal’s Cité Multimedia. After shooting was completed, the footage was passed to Hybride, the 95-person, Quebec owned and operated visual-effects house also responsible for Sin City, which operates out of a refurbished mansion in the Laurentian village of St-Sauveur and doesn’t even have an office in Tinseltown. “The quality of the crews and expertise is great in Montreal,” said Snyder when 300 hit screens in 2007. He recently said that... / Read More →

]]>One of the reasons movie studios like to shoot here is that Montreal can be all things to all people. It can double as anywhere in the world, including Ancient Sparta, as in Zack Snyder’s 300, or a resplendent version of itself, as in Montrealer Deborah Chow’s first feature, The High Cost of Living, starring Scrubs star Zach Braff. Recently, Montreal Buzz spoke to both Zach and Zack about their experiences shooting in Montreal…

It’s no secret that Montreal is a great place to shoot movies, from the award-winning Barney’s Version and its Mordecai Richler precursor, The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, to horror movies like Gothika and Orphan.

The 60-day shoot for Zack Snyder’s 300 was completely enacted on greenscreens in a studio housed in five disused train warehouses in Montreal’s Cité Multimedia. After shooting was completed, the footage was passed to Hybride, the 95-person, Quebec owned and operated visual-effects house also responsible for Sin City, which operates out of a refurbished mansion in the Laurentian village of St-Sauveur and doesn’t even have an office in Tinseltown.

“The quality of the crews and expertise is great in Montreal,” said Snyder when 300 hit screens in 2007. He recently said that though his most recent film, Sucker Punch, was shot in Vancouver, he would love to shoot in Montreal again someday. “We did a lot of shooting and a lot of the post-production in Montreal, and we had a lot of surreal experiences there. On the last day of shooting, we’d just finished our last shot of a bunch of dead Spartans lying there. And then okay, that’s it, it’s 6 in the morning, everyone’s sweating in their loincloths and we all walked outside into this big blizzard and had a snowball fight. It was pretty awesome.”

The High Cost of Living is set to hit screens in the next few weeks, after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival last fall and more recently at the Montreal festival, the Rendez-vous du Cinema Quebecois. The emotionally-charged movie deals with the aftermath of a tragic drunk-driving accident, and stars Braff and Montreal-based actress Isabelle Blais.

“It was really fun to live in Montreal for a few weeks when we were shooting,” Braff explained. “I love the city and the chance to shoot here again was a big draw for me to accept the part.” (Braff also shot the Tony Goldwyn film The Last Kiss here in 2006). The actor mentions he especially liked wandering the city, looking for new favourite spots that would reveal themselves to him on his many long walks around town. “I especially love Old Montreal, walking the streets that feel so European, but have their own appeal. I love ducking into restaurants that feel secret only to me. I’d come back anytime- and we were shooting in the winter!”

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/montreal-in-the-movies/feed/1MEET A MONTREALER: ANDRE MONEThttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/meet-a-montrealer-andre-monet/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/meet-a-montrealer-andre-monet/#commentsTue, 22 Feb 2011 19:08:04 +0000/blog/?p=3550Artist André Monet, a Montrealer now living in London, is creating a special portrait of royal couple Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, who are marrying in April 2011… Media interest is reaching a fevered pitch on the subject of the wedding between Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton, whom he met at school in Scotland. Prince William is, of course, the son of Charles (Prince of Wales) and Diana (Princess of Wales) and is second in line to the throne of England. As with anything Royal Family-related, especially when it comes to weddings, the media in the UK and all over the world can’t get enough and former Montreal artist André Monet is adding his unique sensibilities to the mix. Monet, a recent transplant to London, shows his works with the prestigious Opera Gallery, who’ve worked with Picasso and Andy Warhol in the past, and who chose him to paint a portrait of the royal couple. He is renowned for his celebrity portraits– Mick Jagger, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy and more – which he creates by painting with a toothbrush over bits of newsprint and magazines. He will create the portrait from photographs and a collage relating... / Read More →

]]>Artist André Monet, a Montrealer now living in London, is creating a special portrait of royal couple Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton, who are marrying in April 2011…

Media interest is reaching a fevered pitch on the subject of the wedding between Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton, whom he met at school in Scotland. Prince William is, of course, the son of Charles (Prince of Wales) and Diana (Princess of Wales) and is second in line to the throne of England.

As with anything Royal Family-related, especially when it comes to weddings, the media in the UK and all over the world can’t get enough and former Montreal artist André Monet is adding his unique sensibilities to the mix. Monet, a recent transplant to London, shows his works with the prestigious Opera Gallery, who’ve worked with Picasso and Andy Warhol in the past, and who chose him to paint a portrait of the royal couple.

He is renowned for his celebrity portraits– Mick Jagger, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie Kennedy and more – which he creates by painting with a toothbrush over bits of newsprint and magazines. He will create the portrait from photographs and a collage relating to the history of the Royal Family and of Great Britain. The Royal family has been informed of Andre Monet’s work and the artist’s proofs might be given to them as a present.

In Montreal, you can find André Monet’s work at the Lydia Monaro Gallery. I caught up with André in London, to ask him about what he misses about Montreal…

A

What do you do? I am an artist. I am now creating a series of preliminary sketches of Prince William and Kate. (Heads up visitors to Montreal: André will be soon sending some of these to his Montreal gallery)

You live in London now, but what are your favourite Montreal restaurants? There are many little places I like, but my customary haunts were Le Continental and Troika.

When you were here, which was your favourite local bar? Again, there are so many to choose from, but Bily Kun was one of my best liked.

Which boutique did you like? I sort of shop all over, but love going down to Old Montreal to Reborn on St. Paul.

And what is your favourite area of the city? Well, that is difficult. Mile End, Little Italy, they are all great, but maybe Old Montreal.

Montreal is lucky enough to have lots of green spaces, but which do you like best? The Parc Avenue part of Mont-Royal, where the Tam Tams are is fun in the summer and walking the mountain is great in winter.

]]>http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/meet-a-montrealer-andre-monet/feed/1CELEBRITY-SPOTTING IN MONTREALhttp://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/celebrities-spotting-in-montreal/
http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/celebrities-spotting-in-montreal/#commentsWed, 17 Nov 2010 22:03:41 +0000/blog/?p=2981The who, where, and why you might care. A few days ago after a few late night cocktails at Barroco Restaurant (312 rue St-Paul ouest) in the Old Montreal, gal pal Mary* and I moseyed over to Le Papillon Rose (1071 côte du Beaver Hall) to fete our buddy Josh’s birthday (forever 39, right darling?) Josh – despite being PR man for Hype energy drinks – is a decidedly laidback dude. Mary, then, was a perfect study in contrast when actor Owen Wilson walked through the doorway and she shrieked, “Owen Wilson!” (In her defense, it was a very ladylike shriek; I don’t think everybody noticed.) Much after the fact, I learned that Mr. Wilson had taken in a Habs’ game at the Bell Centre the evening before – which explains the Canadiens shirt he had on under his jacket – before chilling out at Le Vauvert (355 rue McGill) for drinks. When we spotted him the next night, he was arriving from semi-subterranean supperclub L’Orignal (479 rue Saint-Alexis). On the following Saturday, I heard that O.W. and his entourage went cycling around the Old Port of Montreal; he on his own bike, the others on public Bixi rentals. If... / Read More →

A few days ago after a few late night cocktails at Barroco Restaurant (312 rue St-Paul ouest) in the Old Montreal, gal pal Mary* and I moseyed over to Le Papillon Rose (1071 côte du Beaver Hall) to fete our buddy Josh’s birthday (forever 39, right darling?) Josh – despite being PR man for Hype energy drinks – is a decidedly laidback dude. Mary, then, was a perfect study in contrast when actor Owen Wilson walked through the doorway and she shrieked, “Owen Wilson!” (In her defense, it was a very ladylike shriek; I don’t think everybody noticed.)

Much after the fact, I learned that Mr. Wilson had taken in a Habs’ game at the Bell Centre the evening before – which explains the Canadiens shirt he had on under his jacket – before chilling out at Le Vauvert(355 rue McGill) for drinks. When we spotted him the next night, he was arriving from semi-subterranean supperclub L’Orignal(479 rue Saint-Alexis). On the following Saturday, I heard that O.W. and his entourage went cycling around the Old Port of Montreal; he on his own bike, the others on public Bixirentals.

If by now you are wondering why does all this matter? Well, frankly, you can just give up on this blog post right now. American celebrities, you see, are common here in Montreal thanks to our local filmmaking industry. And when they go out to play in our quaint little city, for some it’s the next best thing to actually hanging out with the A-list crowd – if that’s your thing. Going out where famous people go can be a way of getting close to those we admire, idolize or obsess over – without trespassing into stalker territory. Isn’t this why Lennon fans make pilgrimages to the John and Yoko Suite at the Hotel Queen Elizabeth, or why the Celine Dion-obsessed add the Notre-Dame Basilica to their bucket list? It’s why I’m buying a new Habs shirt and will wear it with newfound pride: Owen and I will have that detail in common.

Anyway, if I had you at “Owen,” this blog just gets juicier. (FYI: His movie credits include Wedding Crashers. Did you not love that movie?) While I can’t claim to have seen all these cooler-than-thou celebrities myself, I like to store these “facts” in my brain as if I did. Read on for more Montreal star sightings.

Halle Berry (and model boyfriend Gabriel Aubry – whom since their breakup has apparently moved back to Montreal and has been spotted all over the Plateau neighbourhood) and Johnny Depp at Da Emma777 rue de la Commune ouest,
Old Montreal